Improvement in car-couplings



F. A. WILSON.

Dar-.Couplings- Patented Feb. 17,11874.

4UNI'rnD STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. WILSON, OF GALLATIN, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONETHIRD HIS RIGHT TO ROBERT L. DODGE, OF SAMEPLACE.

IMPRpvEMENT IN CAR-coUPLlNGs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 147,72, dated February 17, 1874 application iilecl October 8, 1873.

To all whom tt may concer-n:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. WILSON, of Gallatin, county of Daviess and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GarCouplin gs, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to certain improvements in car-couplin gs, whereby the draw-head may be applied to cars provided with the ordinary link-andpin coupling, as well as to cars provided with my improved coupling.

The invention consists in an L-shaped drawliead pivoted at its center to the draw-bar in such a manner that it may be turned to the right or left by means of a rod operated by the brakeman from the platform or top of the car, said rod being also arranged with relation to the other parts so lthat it may be used to 4 uncouple the cars.

In the accompanying` drawing, Figure 1 represents a side view of one end of a car with my Improved coupling attached.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

A represents a car having the draw-bar B attached in the usual ina-nner. At the front end of the draw-bar are two lugs or forks, b b, which are perforated to receive a pin or bolt. O is the draw-head, which, in forni, resembles the letter L, or the angle of a square. The an= gular portion is perforated, and is placed between the forks or lugs b b, where it is secured by a bolt passing through the several perforations. In one of the arms of the L-shaped draw-head is a latch, d, pivoted so as to admit of a vertical motion, and having its front end beveled, so as to allow the end of the couplinglink to raise it and pass under it, as shown in Fig. 1. Should the latch (l be found not sufiiciently heavy to insure its constant engagement with the link j', it may be made heavier by the addition of a weight, g. The front end of the latch d is connected by a rod or chain, h, with the outer end of a lever, l, which has its fulcrum in a forked bar, m, extending outward from the end of tbe car A. The lever l is jointed forward of its fulcrum, so as to allow its front end to swing to the right or left. The rear end of the lever is perforated vertically, and through the perforations passes a bar and into-the draw-head, so as to allow a slight longitudinal play to the bar s.

Then the portion of the draw;head containing the latch d is used, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, in which position it will be seen the latch will readily el'lgage with the linkf.

To uncouple the cars, by pressing down theI rod k the rear end of the lever Z is depressed and its front end elevated, raising the latch d. and releasing the link f.

Then the coupling is to be used with the ordinary link and pin, the rod k is turned so as to move the arm of the draw-head containing the latch around against the end of the platform, and bring the other arm to the front, as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, in a canconpling, ofthe rod la, spring i, bar on, lever Z, chain h, and latch d with draw-head O, for uncouplling the cars, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a car-coupling, ofthe sprin g-rod 7s and slotted bar s wit-h draw-head C and forked draw-bar B, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affix my signature this 2d day of October, 1873.

FRANCIS A. IVILSON.

Iitncsses ELIAS M. WALKER., Jnnns C. WILSON. 

